If you are about to set out on your very first career path or are looking to have a career change, it can be a challenge to know which sector is right for you. It can be difficult to know where your skills and specialties lie and which industry would be of most interest to you, which can make the job search rather daunting and confusing.
It is no secret that technology has advanced businesses across the world and is fast becoming a high-demand sector, with job roles popping up in all industries. Technology continues to develop in all areas, which provides the opportunity to secure a long-term career. Not only do tech careers offer high salaries, but plenty of job openings are available – meaning greater job security.
If you have never considered working in tech before but believe it is a career path that matches your interests and skills, the tips below could help you make the first step into securing a job in this sector:
1. Alter Your Resume For Each Job
If your resume is very generalized and doesn’t show off your tech abilities, it’s likely to be overlooked during the hiring process. Employers are on the lookout for individuals who can showcase technical knowledge and understanding within their applications.
The tech sector covers a vast number of roles and responsibilities; therefore, it’s likely that each job advert listed will require different skills and abilities. It wouldn’t be advised to send out a replica of your resume to all of the companies you wish to apply for. Before submitting your tech resume, ensure you thoroughly read over the job description and have gained a clear understanding of what the role entails. In doing so, tailor your resume to match the expectations listed in the advert. You could impress the employer even more by adding specific keywords they have used within the description to prove your understanding of the role.
2. Start Networking
You may have heard of the age-old saying, ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know,’ and this is extremely true when it comes to the job-seeking world. Employers are always keen to meet and find out more about an individual before offering them a job position – so make yourself known through networking.
Take the opportunity to meet professionals in the tech field and gain exposure as a worthy candidate. You can achieve this through social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and even TikTok. Yes, you read it correctly. According to ExpressVPN, posts on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram can be used as new online resumes. The research revealed that hiring managers already use these platforms to find new promising candidates.
Creating solid relationships with corporations may just help you get your foot in the door or potentially boost your chances of being recommended to other firms that are looking for a new team member.
3. Find Out More About the Various Tech Roles
As mentioned, tech roles are extremely varied. Therefore, it’s important to gain a good understanding of the positions that exist within the sector. Some of these include:
- Software Developer
- Engineer
- Cyber security
- Web designer and developer
- Data scientist
If you have specific interests in tech, it would be wise to explore these options and determine whether you have the correct skill set and experience to be considered as a potential candidate by employers. You may not have exactly what it takes to secure your dream role at the moment – but that doesn’t mean you should give up striving to meet this goal. Depending on the expertise required for the role, it may take several months or years to gain the educational background and skills required that will allow you to carve out a secure and exciting career.
4. Get Educated
Unless you have some technical background and experience under your belt, you’ll likely find your application may not be taken to the next stage. You should have some degree of technical knowledge to prove to employers that you’re capable of the job.
Basic tech skills can be acquired from previous job roles; however, there is no proof of the theoretical expertise you may have gained. On the other hand, it would be in your interest to study a course in a tech-related field such as computer science. During an online master’s in computer science for non-CS majors, you’ll learn key critical theories that could help you stand out from the competition during the job hunt – including the likes of computer programming, data mining, and machine learning.
The bottom line is that it’s important to learn and retain as much information as possible if you’re serious about starting out in a tech career. During the application process, you’re likely to be compared to other candidates based on your knowledge and academic certifications in tech. Aim to keep up with the latest news and trends by signing up to industry bulletins and blogs or even turning on Google Alerts for article updates.
5. Take on Freelance Work
If you have found difficulty securing a full-time position in the tech sector, there are alternative options to kickstart your career, such as taking on small projects or freelance work. Companies often choose to outsource tasks to save money by hiring full-time staff by appointing experienced and junior tech freelancers to assist with certain projects. Although these opportunities can be expense-only or low-paid projects, they will become invaluable experiences to add to your resume as well as build a professional portfolio.
6. Consider Getting a Mentor
Starting out in any new career is a daunting experience; however, with the help of a mentor, you’ll be guided in the right direction as to how to conduct yourself and what to look out for. Working with an already well-established individual in the tech industry will give you greater insight into where your focus needs to be and be able to answer some of your most urgent questions. While you can source plenty of information from the internet, it cannot provide the personal human element for help and support.
